Showing posts with label poems. Show all posts
Showing posts with label poems. Show all posts

Saturday, August 18, 2018

Word of God Speak

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1
~
Many years ago, this old bible was given to us by my mother-in-law.
I don't remember how long we've had it in our possession
but I think it had been in a box with some other old things she had given to us.
I don't even recall seeing it until after she had passed away.


There is nothing personal written within it's pages so surely it did not belong the family
and whoever previously owned it wrote nothing inside either.
It wouldn't surprise me if she found it at a rummage sale or flea market.
Since there is no evidence inside, it's pretty much a mystery.



I can't even find so much as a date of publication or printing on it...
but one look can tell you it has been around for many years.


It's been on the top shelf of the spare closet in a plastic bag, bound together by heavy string,
actually not a very nice place to keep this beautiful old bible, really.
The things is, it's so very fragile...you can barely even turn the pages...
no doubt that I had to be very careful as I was taking the photos.
 As you can see, the spine is nearly worn through.


And it's also very heavy.
Of course it isn't practical at all to carry it around.
A bible like this would most likely have been kept on a table or possibly the mantle.



The actual dimensions are 14" x 18" x 5" thick.
The inside boards are embellished with a rich sapphire and gold paper edged in gold trim.


It really is so very beautiful and has wonderful pictures throughout it's pages.


There's just something about old books...the smell and the way the paper feels against your hand.
I try to imagine the people whose fingers have touched it's pages and what their stories were.


I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.
Job 23:12

   
When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank.
Exodus 2:3


Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16
~
When I see this big old family Bible, a picture forms in my mind's eye...
I see a family from long ago, sitting in a semi-circle by a fireplace or maybe around the supper table.
The room is dimly lit with only the glow of the burning embers and oil lanterns to read by.
A father is reading from the Scriptures as the mother and all of the children,
and maybe even Grandma and Grandpa, are all listening intently.
The scene is truly heart-warming.


So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17


Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105
~
GOD IS SPEAKING

Can you hear God speaking?
He’s talking to you now.
If you don’t it’s because you’re not listening
Or you don’t understand how.
The whisper of the wind,
The rustle of the breeze blown leaves,
The patter of the rain,
His voice is all of these.
The smile of a stranger,
The sunshine in the morn,
It’s the twinkle of the stars above
As another babe is born.
The Lord’s language is simplicity,
Not made of nouns and verbs.
It’s in the blooming of rose,
It’s in the growing of the herbs.
His words are in this beauty,
Seen only by the wise.
It’s what we take the time to view,
And what we will recognize.
Our Creator gave us everything,
We need not ask for more.
Give him thanks for what we have,
Give him thanks for what’s in store.

~ George C. Clements


But he answered, “It is written,
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Matthew 4:4


 
THE VOICE OF GOD

When we hear the voice of God
Speaking to our hearts,
Do we obey and follow Him
Or are we slow to start?
For when the Lord speaks to us,
We need to heed the call
And do the things He wants us to,
Giving to Him our all
I know at times it can be hard
To know the Father's will,
We need to listen to His voice,
For He speaks when all is still
Many times we fret so much
And rush so much about,
We then find all our busyness
May cloud our Savior out
So this is why we take some time
To be still before the Lord,
So He can speak into our lives
And show us so much more.

~M. S. Lowndes



The Lord is able to speak to us in many ways...

through His written Word,
through other people,
through the beauty of creation,
and through just about any circumstance we can imagine.

What a blessed people we are to have a God who created us just for this purpose!

What are some of the ways God speaks to you?

Sunday, February 25, 2018

Rocking Chair


There is a peacefulness, an air of reflection, about a rocking chair 
that attaches to no other moving object. 
~Wallis Simpson


Rocking Chair Prayer
 ~author unknown

Back and forth…back and forth…
back and forth I go…


While staying in place, I am moving still…
 I am letting go.



In my rocking chair I am at one 
with the basic rhythms of life:
back and forth…up and down…
in and out…around and around.


I feel the thumping of my heart…
I sense my breathing in and out…


And effortlessly I find myself praying:
O God of All Time, calm me…calm me…


Reassure me of your presence…
your arms enfolding around me…



Give me a deep sense of your care for me…
and remind me of your promises:



“Everything’s going to be okay.”
Amid the rush of daily living,
when I feel splintered into little pieces,
call me back to my rocking chair…


Where, back and forth…back and forth…
I rest in your timeless love.



“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 
Matthew 11:28

Saturday, August 27, 2016

Where Am I Going?

I have to admit, there are times when I have no idea!

Have you ever felt that way or am I the only one?
I mean, I do know that ultimately, I am going to go to heaven one day.
But where am I actually heading on my day to day journey?
There are days when I feel like I'm traveling in the fast lane—not by my lifestyle...
...but like life is just passing by so quickly.
Or sometimes it seems like I'm headed down a one-way street,
not being able to get to where I need to be.

What is the reason for this out-of-nowhere, random question?

I will blame it on my new phone.
Yes, my peeps...I have actually joined the ranks and gotten an iphone!
I know, I know...it's about time I got with the program, right?
My dumb little phone has done me well all these years, but it was time.
And what have I been lusting longing for most after seeing many of YOU using it?
The Waterlogue App.

So I was going through some of the many photos I've taken so far
 and decided to give this random shot that I took on my way to work one morning
the Waterlogue treatment.

Oh my...

That road seemed to take on a whole new meaning and I just couldn't stop looking at it.
I'm not really sure why, but it had a way of making me take stock of my life.
Some days I might feel like I've pretty much got it all together,
but there are just as many days I know, unequivocally, that I do NOT!
I look at that road and it reminds me that I should be farther along on my journey.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 
"This is the way; walk in it."
Isaiah 30:21

Thank you, Lord, for your holy spirit that convicts us me...not condemns me...
...but shows me what is it that I need to do—the things that I do have control over,
to make a difference in the lives of those that I come in contact with.

So...I fret a little and pray a lot.
 But here's what I do know...
...after God...

 I may not always know where I am going 
but I do recognize when I have been lagging behind.
I am thankful for the holy spirit's conviction and for the sweet grace of my Savior. 
I came across this poem that kind of puts it all into perspective, 
~
Life is a Journey
~unknown

Life is but a stopping place,
a pause in what's to be,
A resting place along the road,
to sweet eternity.

We all have different journeys,
different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things,
but never meant to stay...

Our destination is a place,
far greater than we know.
For some the journey's quicker,
for some the journey's slow.

And when the journey finally ends,
we'll claim a great reward,
And find an everlasting peace,
together with the Lord.
~
So yes, I've been having some fun playing with my new iphone...
...and isn't it just like God to use technology to get His message across?!

I follow Jesus so I shall not walk in darkness, but I have the light of life.
John 8:12
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Saturday, March 15, 2014

New Beginnings


"Behold, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.
The flowers have already appeared in the land; the time has arrived for pruning the vines,
and the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land.
The fig tree has ripened its figs, and the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance.
Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come along!"

Song of Solomon 2:11-13


In just a few short days, the calendar says it will be SPRING!
Aren't we all just so ready for it?
It has been a long, cold winter, to say the least!


Just as starting the new year back in January seemed like a new beginning,
the winter season has a way of putting a damper on our enthusiasm and our spirits, doesn't it?


Spring has a way of re-starting our "engines" again.
Spring is a time for new beginnings.
A time when we are ready for a fresh start...for our hope to be renewed.


When I see these little green buds peeks their cute little heads out of the dirt,
it reminds me how I have felt much of the winter...
...craving the warmth of the sun and ready to get going again!


If the winter doldrums have gotten you (and me) down, 
spring is the perfect time for us to begin to find our joy again!


To start that diet (once again) after our New Year's Resolution wore thin...
...the only thing that's thin...
...to start taking those walks that we gave up on when it got too cold...
...to get that house back in order by doing some spring cleaning...
...and not just our physical dwellings places...
...but more importantly in our hearts, Christ's home.


NEW BEGINNINGS
~ Gertrude B. McClain

It's only the beginning now
...a pathway yet unknown
At times the sound of other steps
...sometimes we walk alone

The best beginnings of our lives
May sometimes end in sorrow
But even on our darkest days
The sun will shine tomorrow.

So we must do our very best
Whatever life may bring
And look beyond the winter chill
To smell the breath of spring.

Into each life will always come
A time to start anew
A new beginning for each heart
As fresh as morning dew.

Although the cares of life are great
And heads are bowed so low
The storms of life will leave behind
The wonder of a rainbow.

The years will never take away
Our chance to start anew
It's only the beginning now
So dreams can still come true.


 May we all rejoice as we welcome spring this week...
 ...even if the temperatures don't cooperate!

Blessings,

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Saturday, January 11, 2014

Roses

A life with love will have some thorns but a life without love will have no roses.
~Unknown


Valentine's Day is just around the corner, can you believe it?

If you're like me, you would agree that it's a wonderful feeling to receive flowers! 
I must say that my sweet hubby does a great job in this area.
He blesses me with flowers several times throughout the year...
...sometimes for no special occasion.

More times than not, they are roses—my favorite—and no particular color.
I love them in all shades.

It is not because I am a perfect wife or anything even remotely resembling one.
The fact is, I feel undeserving of them quite often.
Still, he keeps bringing them to me.


But it saddens me when they start to droop their heads and lose their petals.
Some blooms will last longer than others, no doubt...
...and I have a hard time throwing them out when they wilt.
So, here's what I do while they are still intact.



The stems dry straight while hanging and will once again hold up those pretty heads...
...if you're lucky enough to keep the petals from falling off.
I sprayed these with a very strong fixative-type hair spray.


Most of these roses have been around for quite a few years.



Some them came from my hubs, of course...
...and others from funeral sprays from both my mom's and dad's caskets.
Dad died in 2002 and Mom in 2010 so you see they've been around a while.
All of us children picked some out.
All eight of us.

Some were vibrant red...


...some were a deep burgundy...some were yellow.
Others were pale yellow with pink tips...I think they are called "peace".


Something so magnificent happens to them when they dry, don't you think?
Look at the textures and the beautiful layering of the petals.
There is something so...Victorian about them.
I almost love them as much after they've dried as I do when they are fresh.
Almost.

Fragile? You bet.



Like the dried roses, life is fragile.

~HANDLE WITH CARE~

We now have this light shining in our hearts,
but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.
This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

2 Corinthians 4: 7

**********************************************

THE ROSE

It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God's design,
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I,
The flower God opens so sweetly,
In my hands would fade and die.

I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?

So I'll trust Him for His leading
Each moment of every day
And I'll look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.

For the pathway that lies before me
My heavenly Father knows
I'll trust Him to unfold the moments
Just as He unfolds the rose.


~Author Unknown


***********************************************

 And now, a few more "rosey" quotes...



We can complain because rose bushes have thorns,
or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.
~Abraham Lincoln



 The rose speaks of love silently, in a language known only to the heart.
~Author Unknown



The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the rose.
~George William Curtis



Don't strew me with roses after I'm dead.
When Death claims the light of my brow
No flowers of life will cheer me: instead
You may give me my roses now!
~Thomas F, Healey


Just like me believing that I didn't deserve the gift of roses from my husband,
God's love is like that for us, His children.

He keeps giving it, regardless.
Because He loves us without conditions.
That is what He does...that is who He is.
Aren't you glad?

So, sweet friends, I leave you with this song which reminds us of the most perfect rose of all.

"Rose of Bethlehem"
~Selah


 Blessings!


Sharing here:

http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/2014/01/welcome-friends.html
http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/2014/01/mosaic-monday-flower-power.html
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